Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Busy morning, everyone, so this will be a just-the-facts, bullet point version today.
William Moore is listed questionable with a hip injury and was limited in practice all week. The Falcons have the single worst coverage in the league from local writers and there's no additional information. I haven't seen anything to suggest he's not playing and, thankfully, it's an early game and we'll have the inactive list soon.
Brandon Meriweather is out again for an extended period. Reed Doughty, not DeJon Gomes, replaced him last week. There was some indication that Doughty played because Gomes had taken mostly FS reps in practice last week, but the team wouldn't commit either way this week. Should have a lineup card before game time today -- whether it's trustworthy is another issue.
Derrick Johnson had only a limited Friday practice and is questionable with a groin injury. There's not much news on Johnson -- Crennel said nothing -- but the news isn't as encouraging as it was on his ankle earlier this year. Hard to know whether the signing of Bryan Kehl very early this week is related to Johnson, but it's worth considering, too. I'll update inactives when I see them, but consider other options for Johnson today. Jovan Belcher would be the obvious beneficiary as a likely every-down player if Johnson sits.
Jairus Byrd was limited on Thursday and Friday and questionable with a hip injury. Byrd sounded optimistic in interviews but is a game-time decision. We'll probably see Da'Norris Searcy in the base defense if Byrd can't go.
TJ Ward says he'll play after having surgery to fix a broken thumb this week.
Michael Boley says he's playing through a hamstring injury. He's not a lock to play every down, though Keith Rivers is likely out again with his hamstring strain. Consider Chase Blackburn a better than average play today.
Joe Mays is back from suspension. His return likely means we see a Keith Brooking - Wes Woodyard platoon again. However, the Broncos are likely to be in a subpackage on nearly every snap against New England. That makes Woodyard a risky, but high upside play today.
Tavon Wilson replaces Steve Gregory at safety for New England.
Pat Angerer is out and likely at least a week from returning. He did some work on Wednesday, but didn't practice the rest of the week. Expect the usual rotation at linebacker for the Colts today.
Richard Marshall is out for Miami.
Vontaze Burfict, Nate Clements and Carlos Dunlap all practiced fully Friday. Burfict played every down last week and did nothing to suggest he'll rotate today. Consider him a LB3 with upside. Clements saw time at safety before his latest injury. Chris Crocker is back, but the Bengals' corners may be healthy enough for Clements to plays some safety today. Dunlap is likely to continue to rotate in the base defense with Robert Geathers. Consider him a 30-50 snap player depending on game flow.
James Harrison is back, but the team seems likely to rotate him with Lamarr Woodley. Troy Polamalu returns as well.
Jon Beason is doubtful this week. Last week, there was some indication from Ron Rivera that Luke Kuechly would play in the nickel if Beason missed the game. This week, Rivera said that Kuechly was taking reps inside. It's risky to assume that Kuechly is an every-down MLB today, but it's a reasonable risk to take. The other option -- both inside and in the subs -- is Jason Phillips. Presumably, Thomas Davis would play OLB if Kuechly moves inside. This is a late afternoon game, but I'll have details on this as soon as I see them. Chris Gamble is also doubtful.
Colin McCarthy did not practice much this week but has a chance to play. He's a game time decision and another late afternoon start. If he plays, there's no guarantee he plays every down in the base defense or nickel packages. If you have time to hedge, do so, but only use McCarthy if you hear very strong pre-game reports. If McCarthy is inactive, expect another Will Witherspoon / Zac Diles rotation this week.
Erin Henderson practiced fully Thursday and Friday and should play. Leslie Frazier hinted that they may hold Henderson out of nickel packages early in the week. That likely means we'll see Jasper Brinkley as an every-down player for at least one more week. Don't give up on Henderson yet, but keep him out of lineups until the situation settles. Jared Allen was limited with a groin injury, but practiced fully Friday. He'll likely see fewer snaps than usual, but the matchup is too good to sit him.
David Hawthorne is out and Jonathan Casillas questionable. Last week, the Saints used Roman Harper as a nickel backer (like the Bills do with Bryan Scott). Harper was limited with a hip injury this week, however, and is questionable himself. I'd think Harper is closer to probable than doubtful, but you need a SNF/MNF hedge to put him in your lineup if you're unwilling to risk him being inactive.
William Moore is listed questionable with a hip injury and was limited in practice all week. The Falcons have the single worst coverage in the league from local writers and there's no additional information. I haven't seen anything to suggest he's not playing and, thankfully, it's an early game and we'll have the inactive list soon.
Brandon Meriweather is out again for an extended period. Reed Doughty, not DeJon Gomes, replaced him last week. There was some indication that Doughty played because Gomes had taken mostly FS reps in practice last week, but the team wouldn't commit either way this week. Should have a lineup card before game time today -- whether it's trustworthy is another issue.
Derrick Johnson had only a limited Friday practice and is questionable with a groin injury. There's not much news on Johnson -- Crennel said nothing -- but the news isn't as encouraging as it was on his ankle earlier this year. Hard to know whether the signing of Bryan Kehl very early this week is related to Johnson, but it's worth considering, too. I'll update inactives when I see them, but consider other options for Johnson today. Jovan Belcher would be the obvious beneficiary as a likely every-down player if Johnson sits.
Jairus Byrd was limited on Thursday and Friday and questionable with a hip injury. Byrd sounded optimistic in interviews but is a game-time decision. We'll probably see Da'Norris Searcy in the base defense if Byrd can't go.
TJ Ward says he'll play after having surgery to fix a broken thumb this week.
Michael Boley says he's playing through a hamstring injury. He's not a lock to play every down, though Keith Rivers is likely out again with his hamstring strain. Consider Chase Blackburn a better than average play today.
Joe Mays is back from suspension. His return likely means we see a Keith Brooking - Wes Woodyard platoon again. However, the Broncos are likely to be in a subpackage on nearly every snap against New England. That makes Woodyard a risky, but high upside play today.
Tavon Wilson replaces Steve Gregory at safety for New England.
Pat Angerer is out and likely at least a week from returning. He did some work on Wednesday, but didn't practice the rest of the week. Expect the usual rotation at linebacker for the Colts today.
Richard Marshall is out for Miami.
Vontaze Burfict, Nate Clements and Carlos Dunlap all practiced fully Friday. Burfict played every down last week and did nothing to suggest he'll rotate today. Consider him a LB3 with upside. Clements saw time at safety before his latest injury. Chris Crocker is back, but the Bengals' corners may be healthy enough for Clements to plays some safety today. Dunlap is likely to continue to rotate in the base defense with Robert Geathers. Consider him a 30-50 snap player depending on game flow.
James Harrison is back, but the team seems likely to rotate him with Lamarr Woodley. Troy Polamalu returns as well.
Jon Beason is doubtful this week. Last week, there was some indication from Ron Rivera that Luke Kuechly would play in the nickel if Beason missed the game. This week, Rivera said that Kuechly was taking reps inside. It's risky to assume that Kuechly is an every-down MLB today, but it's a reasonable risk to take. The other option -- both inside and in the subs -- is Jason Phillips. Presumably, Thomas Davis would play OLB if Kuechly moves inside. This is a late afternoon game, but I'll have details on this as soon as I see them. Chris Gamble is also doubtful.
Colin McCarthy did not practice much this week but has a chance to play. He's a game time decision and another late afternoon start. If he plays, there's no guarantee he plays every down in the base defense or nickel packages. If you have time to hedge, do so, but only use McCarthy if you hear very strong pre-game reports. If McCarthy is inactive, expect another Will Witherspoon / Zac Diles rotation this week.
Erin Henderson practiced fully Thursday and Friday and should play. Leslie Frazier hinted that they may hold Henderson out of nickel packages early in the week. That likely means we'll see Jasper Brinkley as an every-down player for at least one more week. Don't give up on Henderson yet, but keep him out of lineups until the situation settles. Jared Allen was limited with a groin injury, but practiced fully Friday. He'll likely see fewer snaps than usual, but the matchup is too good to sit him.
David Hawthorne is out and Jonathan Casillas questionable. Last week, the Saints used Roman Harper as a nickel backer (like the Bills do with Bryan Scott). Harper was limited with a hip injury this week, however, and is questionable himself. I'd think Harper is closer to probable than doubtful, but you need a SNF/MNF hedge to put him in your lineup if you're unwilling to risk him being inactive.
